Kitchen Planning

Kitchen Planning: Why So Early in the Construction Phase?

While we are still eagerly waiting for our building permit, the kitchen planning and selection of sanitary fixtures are already being tackled. At first, we were surprised, but the reason is clear: Our architects need detailed information early on regarding the positioning of water and sewage lines, electrical outlets, and other structural elements in order to incorporate them into the construction plans.

Consultation at the Kitchen Studio

On a recommendation, we visited a local kitchen studio for two consultation appointments. After hearing all the horror stories about aggressive sales tactics and fake discounts in kitchen studios, we were pleasantly surprised: the consultation was thorough and professional, our wishes were taken seriously, and all of them were met. In the end, we were slightly over our planned budget—about 5%—but given the excellent solution, this seemed acceptable to us.

Planning

The kitchen cabinets are from the renowned manufacturer Leicht, while the countertop is supplied by Florim.

Cabinetry line: Functional and Elegant

The plan is for a completely enclosed kitchen unit, flush with the wall and equipped with floor-to-ceiling cabinets. This will provide space for:

• A large built-in refrigerator
• A built-in oven
• Various drawers for optimal storage
• A hidden passage door to the pantry
• A large pocket cabinet (two cabinet widths) with sliding doors that provides space for a coffee machine, rice cooker, air fryer, and other kitchen appliances without disrupting the clean look

The kitchen unit will be finished in an elegant, matte slate black, which (hopefully) gives it a timeless and high-quality appearance.

The kitchen island: The Centerpiece

Serving as the centerpiece of our kitchen is a freestanding kitchen island in the middle of the room. It offers:

• Generous storage space on both sides and numerous drawers
• An integrated dishwasher
• An oversized induction cooktop with a built-in downdraft
• A large, modern sink
• A Quooker Flex system that provides boiling water, chilled water, and sparkling water from a single tap

The kitchen island will be finished with real wood walnut veneer (Bossa fronts), creating a wonderful visual contrast while also bringing warmth to the space.

To emphasize the clean look of the kitchen, we opted for recessed handles instead of protruding handles on the doors and drawers—except for the refrigerator and the passage door. In the show kitchen, we were able to experience the practicality of this solution.

For the countertop, we chose a light gray ceramic slab that elegantly “flows down” on the sides. The sink will be undermounted, which emphasizes the clean lines of the countertop.

Built-in appliances

In selecting our built-in electrical appliances, we primarily focused on quality, modern features, and an appearance that matches the rest of the kitchen. We deliberately opted against built-in appliances that have non-built-in versions, which are significantly cheaper and easier to maintain (e.g., built-in microwave, built-in coffee machine).

For the built-in refrigerator, we consciously chose not to go with a combination unit with a freezer, as we found them to be insufficiently spacious. Instead, we will be placing a separate chest freezer in the pantry.

Cost

The total cost for the new kitchen amounts to 34,000€ according to the offer. This price includes all furniture, built-in appliances, light fixtures, all cabinet inserts, as well as delivery and installation.

The early kitchen planning has proven to be extremely valuable for us. It not only allows us to design our dream kitchen down to the smallest detail, but also ensures that all technical requirements can be integrated into the house planning from the very beginning. This helps us avoid later complications and costly changes. Additionally, it provides a bit more certainty regarding costs.